Eyeball Dissection!

Lauren holds her cow eye on her thumb after turning it inside
out and locating the optic nerve connection.

First we removed the fat from around the cow eye. This fat
is important because it cushions the eye.

Samantha has just removed the cornea
and found it to be a tough, clear covering
over the iris.

Today at the Arizona Science Center we dissected cow eyeballs! It was a very messy experiment, as you can tell from the pictures. We learned firsthand about the lens, cornea, iris, optic nerve, and the vitreous humor (the thick, clear jelly that helps give the eyeball its shape). Did you know that a cow's eye has only four muscles and a human's eye has six muscles? The iris is the part of the eye that enlarges and contracts to let light in and out. We know this because we experimented in the light and dark while looking at our own eyes in a mirror. The iris really does change size! Another interesting fact is that all cows have brown eyes; however, our cow iris tore to pieces when we tried to remove it. We ate lunch right after this dissection lab!

How Many Ways Can You Write "SAID"?

The Education Girlz have a multitude of ways to write the word "said"? Why? To improve our word choice, of course! Using the same, tired word over and over only bores our readers so here is a list of alternate ways to use "said":

The Great Mail Race

Do you want to know a fun way to learn about each of the 50 United States?

...then join the Great Mail Race! This is an activity that integrates geography and writing while having fun. The girlz wrote 50 letters between them to schools located in every state. Their letters were written in proper friendly letter style, the envelopes were correctly addressed, and the letters contained information about their state of Arizona. The goal is to receive a response from every state while learning about our entire country. To date, they have received letters from Idaho, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Kansas. In the process, the girlz have acquired three pen pals!

Grandmother's Smile: A Lesson in Genetics

Today at the Arizona Science Center, the girls participated in a workshop designed to help them understand genetics and how each person inherits individual traits. We compared freckles, tongue rolling, toe lengths, finger agility, as well as the more obvious traits like hair color and height. 

By selecting "chromosomes" from two sources, green and yellow, the girls created a unique "Rebob" and assembled it using marshmallows, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, pins, and tacks.

The girls learned about inherited traits by deciphering a "Bioglyph" and creating individual self portraits.

Samantha's "Rebob"

Back to Arizona and Back to Classroom Learning

Tutu's "Blue Room" is decorated in the the blue willow pattern.

Today in art we learned about “The Willow Pattern”. The lesson started with a retelling of the tragic legend of Koong-se and Chang who were not allowed to marry and died rather than be apart. The willow tree is originally from China and represents life. One of the blue colors used in this china pattern is “cobalt”. After learning about the background of this type of china, we created our own willow pattern plates.

Samantha designed a blue willow plate in art class.

This is an example of an authentic piece of blue willow china.

Lauren's blue willow art creation.

Two birds flying high,
A Chinese vessel, sailing by.
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o'er.
A Chinese temple, there it stands,
Built upon the river sands.
An apple tree, with apples on,
A crooked fence to end my song.

Samantha's still life from her previous art lesson.

Lauren's still life creation.

Lauren and Mrs. Henry plant an unknown bulb in science. What  will it  become?

Hawaii Last DAY!

Tutu and Papa pose for their Christmas card picture.

At the airport, leaving Hawaii.

Two girls catching the same wave.

Samantha surfs towards the shore.

Waxing the boards before paddling out.

Carson joins the fun.

Wipe out!

Having fun in Waikiki.

Here comes Carson again!

Waikiki

Samantha loves surfing!

Surfing injuries!

Hawaii Day 6

Playin' in a lagoon!

Lauren playing tennis with Papa! (Guy) 

Flat Island Bay (posing in a lagoon)

Flat Island ( Popoia, a bird island sanctuary)

Today we woke up from a garbage truck's loud clanging noise stopping in front of Tutu's and Papa's house. Ugh, we were tired. We started out with some homemade pancakes (we always used to have cereal.) Then we did some educational activities like math. But before that, we played a game of Hawaiian Go Fish and Lauren won! (Boo for me.) Well at least I got second. After that it was time to watch Lauren and Papa play tennis. So we took our ugly Jeep to a tennis court at Mrs. Davis's old high school, and they hit the ball for a little, but then a girl whined that they made reservations so we had to go back into (once again) our ugly Jeep. It was time to get ready for the trip to Flat Island, so we put on our swim suits and put on a copious amount of sun block about five times. When we got in the water we were a little shaky because it was very cold, but before we knew it we were having a good time. I had a little trouble with my goggles at the end on the way there, but (once again) we were there in no time! When we were there we collected plenty of shells (big and small.) We also saw about five birds (Pacific shear water and egrets.) We were supposed to see more birds but since we were not in the spring we missed out. We were bummed out. It was time to start riding a boogie board or swimming back, so we did. I (Samantha) rode a boogie board, but Lauren swam. We were colder on the way out since it had more wind and we were not wet on the way heading to Flat Island. I couldn't wait to get in the car and wrap a towel around me, and like I predicted I was comfy and cozy! While my teacher had to go to the store to get some food, Lauren and I stayed home jump roping and doing our arm bands. That is when the neighbor's dog went in the house and explored. We didn't know where the dog was coming from until we looked at his tag. We tried calling his owner, but he did not answer. Two times we called and then finally his owner came after our late dinner.
-This blog entry was written by Samantha.

With Nic at the Pali Lookout.

Hawaii Day 5

A beautiful sunset tonight!

Today we woke up early and snorkeled at Kaimana Beach which is at the foot of Diamond Head. When we were snorkeling, Samantha saw a school of silver fish and Lauren saw just one tiny silvery fish. After snorkeling, we went to University of Hawaii and worked on reading comprehension in the Sinclair Library. Then we attended Carson's music class where we learned to read classical choral music! And wow they have loud voices! Next we traveled to the Waikiki Aquarium. We learned about monk seals, humuhumunukunukuapua'a, octopuses, and sting rays. We touched spiny sea urchins and a baby hermit crab. Then we drove home and divided fractions. We had a day full of learning and activity!

A spotted moray eel!

Moorish Idol fish!

Lauren and Samantha caught in a giant clam!

A giant clam!

A longnose butterfly fish! 

A lionfish!

A jellyfish!

Hawaii Day 4

Hanauma Bay!

Hawaii Day 3

Today we woke up at a later time. Our first tour was of Pearl Harbor. We went in the Bowfin submarine and on the memorial. Did you know that oil is still leaking from the Arizona? After Pearl Harbor we went to the Aloha swap meet where we bought some flowery jewelry and souvenirs for our family.  Next we swam to a raft and a small island at Kahala Hotel where we also watched dolphins perform tricks. The raft was very slippery and Samantha's watch is now submerged off shore somewhere. As our day was ending, we started to get drowsy once again. That was a fun and educational third day in Hawaii!

T

Lauren and Samantha in their new dresses posing for a photo outside of Tutu and Papa's house!

Pearl Harbor Memorial!

Lauren and Samantha steering the wheel of a submarine!

The oil still leaking from the Arizona! 

Lauren and Samantha with two survivors from Pearl Harbor!

Playing in the pool.